Howe, Barnholt, Hall Lead the Master Women’s Charge

After 180 singlespeed riders pounded the course into submission, the superfast Masters Women duked it out for eight titles over the course of the day. We’ll see many of the racers from the 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44 categories battling again on Sunday in the Elite race – so these are clearly racers with talent and kick. The sun defrosted some of the icy and snowy sections enough to spatter racers’ faces with some mud to make it look like ‘cross out there, but there was still plenty of slick black ice in the corners and off-cambers.

Women’s 30-34 Kari Studley took an early lead in the Women’s 30-34 race and was joined by Barb (Barbarella) Howe and Andrea Smith. Smith faltered, losing contact with the two west coast riders while Howe and Studley traded the lead and took shots at each other like it was a championship boxing match. As the weather warmed up, course conditions took a sharp turn as riders started crossing the finish streaked in mud. While Howe and Studley traded blows, Deidre (Dee Dee) Winfield worked her way into third and by the last lap passed Studley to finish second. In the final straight Studley found herself in a two-up sprint with Andrea Smith. After some contact between the two riders, Smith crossed the line third, much to Studley’s disappointment (and subsequent protest). Howe’s commanding win in the final laps of the 30+ race demonstrated her drive and commitment after several years of health issues and injuries that have kept her readjusting expectations from her level of three to four years ago.

Women’s 35-39 Starting behind the 30-34 women, Kerry Barnholt might have been at a disadvantage due to traffic. Barnholt, however, used the younger women as rabbits. After taking the holeshot, Barnholt ripped her way through the field in front to the point that, if she were racing in the 30-34 race, she’d have come in fifth. Linda Sone, a firefighter out of Minneapolis, and Nicole Duke, a pro downhill racer, rounded out the top-three but never caught sight of Barnholt once she stormed out of the starting gate.

In the Masters 40-44 Women’s race, Gina Hall (Cal Giant) capped her return to cyclocross racing with an impressive, gritty win in a tight, dramatic race. Four women quickly separated themselves from the field with “professor” Elizabeth Frye taking the holeshot and dragging defending champion Wendy Williams (Hudz Subaru), Hall and Shannon Gibson (Velo Bella) with her. While Gibson struggled a bit on the rideable run-up, the other three took turns at the front in their bid to take the stars and stripes jersey. But Williams took a spill with a lap and a half to go and Frye seized the opportunity to gap the defending champ. Hall clung tight and Gibson stayed within reach and, with one to go, it looked like the top three were set.

Hall, used to big-time cyclocross from racing Super Cups and in European events, took charge on the last lap and opened up the gap over Frye and Gibson, rolling in to an easy win. Behind, Williams remained determined in her chase and, with a ferocious sprint, just took Frye at the line. In the process the two collided and Frye hit the deck hard. Behind, Gibson rolled across in fourth. Allison Baumhefner finished in fifth.

In the Masters 45-49 race, Kris Walker (Church of the Big Ring) defended her title and kept the jersey with a narrow sprint victory over fast-finishing Karen Hogan (Chipotle – Titus) with former time trial World Champ Karen Brems (Webcor) closing a big gap to finish in third, just four seconds off the pace.

In the Masters 50-54 race, Marilyn Ruseckas (Seven Cycles) entered her first National Championships after many years out of the sport and, in the process, took a dominant win. Jane Finsterwald (Chipotle – Titus) finished in second, 46 seconds back, with Ruth Sherman (Corning Race), Karen Kenlan (Bend Bike N Sport) and Lee Smith (Team Group Health) rounding out the podium.

Women’s 55-59 Diane Ostenso (Planet Bike) took her third National Championship in a row, blowing past younger riders and stretching her lead out to a two-minute gap over former National Champ Tove Shere (Thenationalsproject.com). Margaret Thompson (Hammer) finished in third.

Women’s 60+ Martha Iverson (Durango Wheel Club) racing in the 60-64 age group, and Julie Lockhart (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental / MCRA) racing in the 65-69 recaptured their 2008 titles for another year. With several national titles to her name, Lockhart shows no sign of retiring after a full schedule of road, track and ‘cross races in 2009.

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